Prepare To Survive!

I’ve had scores of people asking how to get started prepping, or explain how they have to “sneak” preps from their spouse or they simply “don’t have the money” to prep so I thought I would put together a list of items that can be bought cheap, about $5 each. The goal of this list is to demonstrate that prepping can be done for as little as $ 5.00 per week. I don’t know anyone who can’t spare five bucks a week to invest in the ability to save your life and the life of your family in an emergency and it’s pretty easy to explain where $5 went to the wife, although I suggest getting your spouse on your side when it comes to prepping.

A quick side note…your spouse or kids can’t see the need to prep? Here’s a fun game you can play with the whole family! Go to your main breaker and shut it off and cut your water off at the main valve for a full 24 hours. I know of no better way to convice someone they are unprepared for even a small event. Now, back to the topic on hand…..

Some of the items below go for less than five bucks, some may go for slightly more. You can buy whatever you want whenever you want, this isn’t a strict list. Splurge and spend $10 a few weeks and double up, or just look for what’s on sale that week. For just $ 5.00 +/- you can buy the following storable things:

FOOD ITEMS

Five packages of Idahoan instant potatoes (flavored)

A case of ramen noodles (20 pkgs)

five cans of sardines

five gallons of purified water

nearly two cases of bottled water

four cans of peaches, pears or fruit cockatail

2 jars of mandarin oranges

five pounds of rice

three to four pounds of spaghetti

Two cans of spaghetti sauce

three bags of egg noodles

eight packages of gravy mix

four cans of whole or sliced new potatos

four cans of green beans or at least three cans of carrots, greens, peas or mixed veggies

Two cans of Yams

six cans of pork and beans

one 40 ounce can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew

Two 12 ounce cans of chicken, tuna or roast beef

One 1lb canned ham

three cans of refried beans

three 12 oz cans of raviolis or spaghetti O’s.

Two 12.5 ounce cans of Salmon

Five pounds of Oatmeal

Four packages Dinty Moore heat and eat meals

five packages of corn bread mix

Four pounds of Sugar

Five pound of Flour

1.5 quarts of cooking oil

three one pound bags of dry beans

two cans of apple juice

a jar of peanut butter

two boxes of yeast

two bags of generic breakfast cereal

10 8 oz cans of tomato paste/tomato sauce

four cans of soup

four cans of Chunky soup

8-10 pounds of Iodized salt

two bottles of garlic powder or other spices

Two boxes of kool aid

A can of coffee

2 bottles of powdered coffee creamer

Non-Food Items

one manual can opener

two bottles of camp stove fuel

100 rounds of .22lr ammo

25 rounds of 12 ga birdshot or small game loads

20 rounds of Monarch 7.62×39 ammo

a spool of 12lb test monofilament fishing line

2 packages of hooks and some sinkers or corks.

artificial lure

two packages of soft plastic worms

three Bic Lighters or two big boxes of matches

A package of tea lights

50 ft of para cord

a roll of duct tape

a box of nails or other fasteners

a flashlight

two D-batteries, four AA or AAA batteries or two 9v batteries

a toothbrush and tooth paste

a bag of disposable razors

eight bars of ivory soap (it floats)

a box or tampons or bag of pads for the ladies

two gallons of bleach

needles and thread

a ball of yarn

OTC Medications (at Dollar General)

2 bottles 1000 count 500 mg generic Tylenol (acetometaphin)

2 bottles 500 count 200 mg generic advil (ibuprofen)

2 boxes 24 cound 25 mg generic Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCI)

4 bottles 500 count 325 mg aspirin

2 boxes of generic sudafed

4 bottles of alcohol

a box of bandages (4×4)

There you have it, for roughly $5 you can buy anything on this list. Commit yourself to buy one item a week, or even one a day if you can and pretty soon you’ll have a nice collection of survival gear.

Back when this was made (Aug 2011) the total cost was about $260. Due to inflation and our dollar being devalued, prices have went up a bit on a few things (but still roughly within the $5-/+ range). It’s probably more around the $275 – $280 range now if you do a rough inflation adjustment. If you bought everything outright however you could save by buying some items in bulk which would lower your cost some, which would bring you back down to the $250 – $260 range.

Note too that prices vary slightly by location. What’s $5 for me could be $6 – $7 for you because of local conditions, like if you live in Alaska for example.

Thanks for the list. I am a disabled senior and on an extremely tight budget. And I reluctantly admit that I rely on the local Food Pantry to see me through the month. Several months ago I started putting any of the can goods left at the end of the month into a box in the back of my closet. I also put any extra rolls of toilet paper in the box. When shopping, I search out the Buy One Get One deals and put the extra in the box. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to fill the box. My son stopped laughing at his mother’s silliness when I had him help me sort the cans and jars into movable boxes. After 6 months, I have 6 medium size boxes (Tomato Boxes) of Canned Goods. 3 boxes (each with 12 quart jars) of beans, rice, pasta. 2 boxes of 12 quarts each of dehydrated carrots, bell peppers, squashes, mushrooms, spinach leaves, cabbage, bok choy, celery…….. Also, I now have 26 rolls of toilet paper. Your list has given a whole lot of additional items I will be searching for and hoarding… I mean storing.. {:0) It can be done if you use a little common sense and determination.